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Sound Kayakers Club

In 2011 humanity consumed 35% beyond the Earth's "capacity to regenerate those resources and absorb the waste." If everyone lived like an average North American, it would take five Earths to support us all sustainably. North America has about 5% of the world's population, and we use about 25% of the world's fossil fuel resources annually. According to the Global Footprint Network, "Reducing humanity's carbon Footprint is the most essential step we can take to end overshoot and live within the means of our planet." For easy-to-understand facts and figures, go to The Pew Center on Global Climate Change. If you're a scientific type, go straight to the Assessment Reports of the Nobel winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Bloggers, read 2010 Best of Green Award Winner Climate Progress.

At Kayak Adventure, we try to live as globally fair citizens of the Earth. These are some of our "sustainable living" practices:

Energy Supply
Reduce heating fuel use with efficient appliances and insulation
In 2003 we replaced our old furnace with a fuel-efficient model. This reduced annual heating oil consumption from 1390 gallons to 860 gallons, saving a pile of money, in addition to reducing carbon emissions. In 2004, we added 9" of insulation to the attic, and reduced oil consumption to 715 gallons per year. In 2008-9 we wore extra layers of clothes, drank hot tea or did work/exercise to keep warm, and consumed only 597 gallons. Our home has about 1600 square feet of living space.

We just replaced our fifteen year old top-loading washing machine with a Whirlpool front-loader that uses an average of 212 kwh/year of electricity (168% better than the Federal standard), and about a third the amount of water. See the EPA's EnergyStar program before buying any new appliance, to make the most earth-friendly decision. We line dry our clothing, as there is no such thing as an energy-efficient gas or electric dryer. We've replaced our light bulbs with compact fluorescents, which use 75% less energy than regular bulbs.

Turn down the thermostat
On winter nights we keep the temperature at 57 degrees and snuggle under a down quilt. In the morning, we turn it up to 62. This feels cozy upstairs. Downstairs we wear a sweater and vest, adding a light wool cap when needed. Warming up with a morning yoga routine, and taking a brisk walk in the afternoon keeps circulation moving. A hot cup of tea is our third line of defense. When tempted to turn it up, we think about the 2020 global climate scenario - what are we leaving our children and grandchildren? topsy-turvy weather, or a liveable planet?

In summer, the mature cherry, oak and ash trees in our yard provide a living air conditioner that make temperatures ten degrees cooler. During a hot spell we open windows only on cool nights, and shut them as soon as the sun comes up. We use pleated one inch thick shades on most windows, which act as excellent insulation, keeping the house cool on all but the hottest days. We'll sleep on the first floor before turning on an air conditioner. Going to bed after a cool shower and shampoo help. Air conditioners add a heat load to an over-stressed environment. They should be moth-balled.

Daylighting and nightlighting
When I start my day, I pull the shades wide open in the rooms I'll be working in. Using natural light for illumination is called daylighting. At night, I use strategically placed photovoltaic nightlights to light my path through the house with minimal power. They also act to keep mold at bay. I count the bulbs I'm turning on, and use fixtures with fewer watts. I'm looking into LED lights - will report back.

Reduce hot water use
We use only cold water taps, except once a day, when we wash dishes, take a shower and do the laundry (if needed) in series. In summer, we shower with solar hot water from our back-yard hose. Heating water comprises 15-20% of a typical household energy bill. Go Solar for Free Hot Water, an article in Mother Earth News, lets you evaluate an earth-friendly alternative. I wash in cold water every morning to habituate to cold water immersion, a practice that is a tested safety measure for workers in cold water environments.

Transport
Minimize auto use
We plan ahead so errands can wait until there are three things to do in the same geographic area. Combining errands, or "trip chaining," helps improve air quality and reduces traffic congestion. See Ten Simple Steps to find out how easy it is to make an impact. Use the Terrapass carbon footprint calculator to find out what your impact is from driving and flying. Having a measure helps you set and reach a goal for reduction.

Using alternate modes of local transportation is healthier for us, and for the environment. Because the bank is a frequent stop, we changed ours so it's an eight minute walk. Our auto sits in the driveway two days a week. We keep two bikes tuned and ready to go for sunny day errands. We use Metro North rail to get from Norwalk to Stamford to visit the Apple Store, and Amtrak to visit my daughters in Rhode Island or Philadelphia.

Photo: Our vegie garden grows in front, where a southeast exposure gives best sunlight.

Use regionally based suppliers
A large portion of fossil-fuel use comes from transportation for the goods we buy. Whenever feasible, we purchase from local suppliers. By supporting them, we ensure a sound regional economy and help the Earth.

Our staff shares this commitment to the Earth by growing our own greens, herbs and fruits, and purchasing locally-grown produce at Farmer's Markets from June through November. The just-picked sweet taste is unbeatable! Follow this link to find one in your area:  Fairfield County Farmers' Markets.

We also buy "Connecticut Grown" produce year-round at the supermarket. Ask your favorite market to buy and label locally grown products. Read labels to choose local producers for staples such as flour, eggs and sweeteners. Check out Local Harvest to learn more. As a radical commitment to the Earth, forswear tropical produce, unless you're visiting in the tropics. Think about it - on average, produce grown in the US travels 1300 miles to reach grocery shelves!

Recreate locally
Travelling to kayak doesn't make sense when we live on the shore of Long Island Sound, with its rivers, creeks, marshes, estuaries and the Sound itself, all within a short drive for coastal county residents. As an Environmental Educator, our Manager believes in getting to know one's local habitats in all seasons, from pre-dawn to star-lit skies, in rain, fog and snow, as well as sunny weather. Our locale has a rich diversity of marine life, much of which you will only come to know through repeated visits with patient and quiet observation. There's no need to fly to Florida, Baja, or Alaska to find a rich natural environment. Connecticut has 412 species of birds (see the CT Ornithological Association for a checklist.) We recommend A Field Guide to North Atlantic Wildlife by Noble S. Proctor and Patrick J. Lynch for a guide to marine mammals, seabirds, fish and other sea life. To find local launch sites, check out the DEP's CT Coastal Access Guide.

We invite you to travel by train to East Norwalk's Metro North stop, where we'll be glad to pick you up for any Kayak Adventure lesson or trip. The station is an 11 minute walk from our office.

Car-pool to launch sites
Most trips meet at our home office and use the fewest vehicles for the short trip to one of five local launch sites.

Waste management
Reduce, reuse, recycle. Minimize waste.
We bring our own canvas bags when we shop, and choose products with minimal packaging. We re-use #2, 4 or 5 water bottles, and store left-overs in safely re-usable containers. See this Trusted.MD article for information on re-usable plastic containers. We use cloth napkins and rags rather than paper products. We recycle plastics, metal, newsprint and office paper. All vegetable scraps are added back to our garden, as are grass clippings, autumn leaves, and tree branches that fall in storms. This EPA website has many tips for source reduction and reuse.

Reduce water consumption
Our staff minimize personal use of water. We lay out our gear in one spot to keep our rinse time short. Toilets use the most water, so we follow the camp practice - water yellow, let it mellow, water brown, flush it down. In 2011 we installed a Toto Eco-Supreme 1.28 Gallons Per Flush toilet to replace a 1940's era one that used 5-7 GPF. Our water & sewage bills have already shown a sharp decline! We keep showers short, and don't leave water running when brushing teeth or shaving. The EPA site, How to Conserve Water, gives engineering and behavioral practices to help use water effectively.

We do not water the lawn, as grass will bounce back from a drought (bluegrass and fescue can survive about a month without water). Follow these Lawn Care Tips to Save Water During Drought to have a healthy lawn in spite of erratic rainfall patterns.

We've installed two rain barrels to capture run-off from the roof, which we use to water our vegetable and fruit gardens. In times of drought, we save gray water from washing dishes to water house and garden plants.

What's Your Impact?
To find out your impact on planet Earth, take this Ecological Footprint Quiz. To evaluate your impact on climate change, use this Carbon Footprint Calculator from The Nature Conservancy. Patrick Gonzalez, a Nature Conservancy climate scientist, says: "Each person can make a difference because one small positive act multiplied millions of times produces immense benefits."

Additional resources
Lester R. Brown's book, Plan B - Rescuing a Planet under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble, (2003) provided well-researched information and insights which spurred us to adopt major changes in lifestyle. Brown is President of the Earth Policy Institute. His Plan B 4.0 was released in 2009. One Amazon reviewer called it "The best book on building a viable global future." To get an overview of the ecological concept of sustainability, Mathis Wackernagel & William Rees, Our Ecological Footprint, New Society Publishers, 1996 provides a research-based, detail-filled framework. Another book we recommend is Radical Simplicity by Jim Merkel. Jim, who is our Manager's brother, is a founder of the Global Living Project, and was Sustainability Coordinator at Dartmouth College from 2005-2007.

Updated January 1, 2012.